[SOLUTION] How Do I Fix The GPU Memory Full In Davinci Resolve 18?

DaVinci Resolve Your GPU Memory Is Full

I remember the good old days when I was a broke high school student using DaVinci on my trashy old Acer Aspire 5. I used to get this error a lot back then, and it was a constant battle to find solutions. The "GPU Memory Is Full" error, while intimidating at first, is a common hurdle many DaVinci Resolve users face, especially when working on intricate projects or high-resolution footage. This error is a clear indication of the software's demand for resources, highlighting the importance of optimizing your system and the software settings for a seamless editing experience.

Causes Of High GPU Memory Usage:

1. Working with high-resolution content or complex projects in DaVinci Resolve that require more GPU memory than is available. This can also lead to crashes.
2. DaVinci Resolve is more GPU-intensive compared to other video editors. It requires a minimum of 16GB of RAM to run smoothly. For Fusion, it's recommended to have 32GB of RAM.
3. The software might not be communicating properly with your graphics card.

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How To Solve This Issue

1. Ensure Your System Meets the Requirements

Where to Find This: Before you even open DaVinci Resolve, you'll want to check your computer's specifications. You can do this by right-clicking on "This PC" or "My Computer" on your desktop or in File Explorer and selecting "Properties."

What to Do: DaVinci Resolve is quite demanding. For smooth operation, you need at least 16GB of RAM. If you're diving into Fusion, bump that up to 32GB. The unique thing about DaVinci Resolve, you see, is that it leans heavily on the GPU, not just the CPU. So, ensure your graphics card has a minimum of 2GB of VRAM. If you're unsure about your GPU's VRAM, you can usually find this information on the manufacturer's website or by searching for your GPU's specifications online.

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2. Update Your Graphics Card Drivers

Where to Find This: On your computer, press the "Win+R" keys simultaneously. A small window will pop up. Type in "devmgmt.msc" and press Enter. This will open the Device Manager.

What to Do: In the Device Manager, expand the "Display adapters" section. Right-click on your GPU and select "Properties." Navigate to the "Driver" tab. Here, click on "Update Driver." Believe me, keeping your drivers updated can solve a multitude of problems. If Windows says your drivers are up to date, it's still a good idea to check the manufacturer's website for any newer versions.

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3. Close Background Applications

Where to Find This: On your taskbar, right-click and select "Task Manager." Alternatively, you can press "Ctrl+Shift+Esc" together.

What to Do: In the Task Manager, you'll see a list of running applications. Some of these might be silently consuming your GPU's resources. Look for any applications that you're not actively using and click "End Task." By doing this, you're freeing up more GPU memory for DaVinci Resolve.

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4. Adjust Paging File Settings

Where to Find This: This is a bit advanced, but no worries. Right-click on "This PC" or "My Computer" and select "Properties." From there, go to "Advanced system settings" and under the "Advanced" tab, click on "Settings" in the Performance section.

What to Do: In the Performance Options window, go to the "Advanced" tab and click on "Change" under Virtual Memory. This is where you can adjust the paging file size for your drives. Increasing this can sometimes help alleviate GPU memory issues.

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5. Tweak DaVinci Resolve's GPU Settings

Where to Find This: Open DaVinci Resolve. In the bottom right corner, you'll find a gear icon, which is the "Settings" button.

What to Do: In the settings, navigate to the "System" section and then to "Memory and GPU." Here, you can adjust the GPU processing mode and other related settings. If one setting doesn't work, try another. Sometimes, a simple switch here can make all the difference.

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6. Lower the Timeline Resolution

Where to Find This: Still in DaVinci Resolve, look for the "Settings" button (the gear icon) in the bottom right corner.

What to Do: In the "Master Settings," you'll find an option for "Timeline Resolution." Reducing this will decrease the strain on your GPU. It's like turning down the quality on a video to make it buffer faster. You're essentially telling DaVinci Resolve to use fewer resources, making it easier on your GPU.